Oceanário de Lisboa

The Oceanário de Lisboa stands as one of the world's premier aquariums, built as the centerpiece of Expo '98 and designed by renowned architect Peter Chermayeff. The unique design places a massive 5-million-liter central tank at the heart of the building, surrounded by four habitat tanks representing the world's oceans - the North Atlantic, Antarctic, Temperate Pacific, and Tropical Indian Ocean. The central tank creates the illusion of a single massive ocean, separated only by invisible acrylic panels that allow sharks, rays, barracudas, and the famous ocean sunfish (one of the few in captivity worldwide) to appear to swim alongside smaller species. Over 8,000 marine animals representing 500 species call the Oceanarium home, including sea otters, penguins, rays, tropical fish, jellyfish, and corals. The facility also houses the world's largest nature aquarium, 'Forests Underwater' by Takashi Amano, a 160,000-liter freshwater exhibit. Educational programs focus on ocean conservation and marine biology. The Oceanarium was recognized as the first IUCN Center for Species Survival, emphasizing its role in marine conservation and research. With approximately 1 million visitors annually, it's Portugal's most visited cultural attraction.